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WCC’s new chief executive arrives, welcomed with powhiri
Wellington.Scoop
The Wellington City Council’s new chief executive Matt Prosser has arrived from England and has started work.
It’s been a low-key arrival, with no announcement from the council that he is here. But staff and councillors have attended a powhiri to welcome him.
He faces many challenges in his new job, with controversy about excessive rates increases, and candidates for the council promising zero rates increases if they are elected.
News from WCC – December 5
The Wellington City Council has appointed experienced British local government leader Matt Prosser as its new chief executive. Mr Prosser has three decades of experience working in local government, and is currently chief executive of Dorset Council, a large unitary authority in southwest England serving 380,000 residents with just under 5000 employees and 82 elected members.
Mr Prosser will take over the role from Barbara McKerrow in the first quarter of 2025 with a start date yet to be confirmed.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says there was significant global and national interest in the role from highly qualified senior leaders, but Mr Prosser was selected due to his local government experience, focus on people and community outcomes, commitment to innovation and transformation, and proven leadership in developing teams.
“Wellington is a city undergoing a period of change and revitalisation, upgrading our water infrastructure, making buildings and public spaces more attractive and resilient, taking climate action and evolving our transport network. This is being delivered by a Council committed to providing the services our community needs and wants within a challenging economic climate.
“To deliver, we need a high-performing organisation driven by an exceptional leader. I’m really pleased Matt is coming on board to lead our Council through this period of transition. Whilst new to Wellington, his international experience will be of significant benefit. He’s a strong relationship builder, with decades of involvement in local government and a commitment to service.
“I look forward to working with him and introducing him to all that Pōneke has to offer,” Mayor Whanau says.
Mr Prosser says he is looking forward to the move and the challenges ahead.
“I love New Zealand and have always thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Wellington. My wife and I are looking forward to becoming Wellingtonians and walking the lovely bush trails with our golden retriever, enjoying the excellent cafes and hospitality, and cheering on the Hurricanes and Poua.
“Wellington is just the kind of city we love, full of innovative, creative people, wonderful nature and a rich history.
“Local government is a complex environment with multiple stakeholders, competing interests and funding challenges, but also so much opportunity to contribute in a positive way to the wellbeing of our communities and environment. I’m looking forward to understanding how best to serve Wellington, working alongside the talented team at Wellington City Council,” he says.
Ms McKerrow finishes her five-year term in March 2025.
Matt Prosser career history
President – SOLACE UK (January 2023 to present)
President of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, representing 1800 CEOs and Senior Managers across the UK.
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CEO Dorset Council
(October 2018 to present) Large unitary authority in the SW of England, established in 2019. Serving 384,000 residents with 82 elected members and just under 5000 staff colleagues
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CEO Dorset Councils Partnership (March 2015 to October 2018) Developed the first three council model, with a single workforce delivering services to three sovereign councils.
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CEO of West Dorset & Weymouth & Portland Councils (Feb 2014 to March 2015) CEO of shared services partnership negotiated political changes and inclusion of third council within one year.
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Shared Strategic Director – South & Vale (July 2007 to Feb 2014) One of the first shared services partnerships, serving a population of 265,000 across Oxfordshire.
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Regional Programme Manager – The Improvement & Development Agency (June 2005 – July 2007)
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Chief Officer – Leisure, Culture and Tourism – West Oxfordshire (Jun 2002 – June 2005)
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Assistant Director – Social & Culture Services – Vale of White Horse (November 1999 to June 2002).
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to have local Government led by local people? This would also save ratepayers the recruiting and translocation costs of getting people from overseas.
Why on earth does the CEO of the WCC get paid more than the PM of NZ?
I fully endorse the above comments.
Absolutely agree Christina. How about capping all senior executive pay at, say $250k. Or alternatively, adopt performance pay and tie executive pay to the Council satisfaction ratings.
I too endorse the comments of Mr Lee.
Interesting read – Dorset Council is facing significant financial challenges and may be on the brink of bankruptcy due to rising costs, particularly for social care, and insufficient government funding. While the council has a balanced budget, it is reliant on council tax and business rates, and is lobbying for fairer funding from the government. The council is also implementing cost-saving measures, including reducing the wage bill through job cuts, to address the budget gap. Don’t you bankrupt us, now, Mr Prosser.
Reducing the wage bill through job cuts. Now there’s a good idea.
Let’s see what he brings to the table. I hope he had an indepth brief on what makes ratepayers tick, and is aware of the “revolt” that has been brewing for some time.
Thanks Beverly. Interesting to read the background of the Council Mr Prosser has left, although it opens a can of worms as to whether or not local governments are the right way to run cities and towns in democratic societies. Why do they become political so quickly and should political parties stay out of election campaigns, should certain responsibilities remain with central Government, why do they have to borrow so much money for Councillors’ personal agendas and create debt which can cripple a city for generations etc?
I hope Mr Prosser has the fortitude to cope with the WCC’s many issues.
When talking, ask the WCC management the annual cost of their twin ‘ivory towers’ on Jervois Quay, against the Municipal Office Building they could have moved back into for nothing, and how much they have paid to demolish their free accommodation.
This decision was initiated under the previous council so is more management rather than Council’s fault.
So now the CEOs of both the Wellington City Council and the Lower Hutt Council are imports from England. Why is this? Cultural cringe? Correct political views? I don’t get it.
Wish him all the best. He’s taking over a shambles of an organisation with issues from operational inefficiency, bloated cost structure and a lack of oversight of contracts and contractors. On top of that he has a dysfunctional Council hellbent on making Wellington unaffordable, and a complete mess of a ten year plan.